Bird flu

Italy vacation countdown: T minus 7 days.

Note: The sidebar that is usually located on the right is at the bottom of the page, due to the size of the photos.. In case you are looking for it.

Before anyone gets too concerned, let me just say that we went through the Avian Bird Flu thing in Asia, along with SARs. It's serious and I suppose people are right to be cautious. Some folks are even known to consider cancellation of holidays to countries where “bird flu” has been identified (brings back visions of people canceling their international trips immediately after 9/11). It is certainly an economic issue for many people, but folks are also worried about health and safety.

With that said, I don’t mean to sound jaded, but after a while, the endless news reports on the rampant spread of disease across the globe does lose its sense of urgency.

I suspect the media contributes to the alarmism around this issue, as they often publish stories that scare and worry many people. Here is a sampling of the news reports on bird flu from this week's news alone:

(1) “As bird flu is spread continent-to-continent by wild birds, the seasonal migration that is normally one of nature's wonders is becoming something scary. Could bird flu reach North America through migrating birds? Biologists in Alaska and Canada are keeping an eye out and say it's possible by next year”. Watch out US....

(2) “So far, bird flu has been detected in both wild and domestic birds as far east as the Danube Delta in Romania. The virus was reported in poultry in Turkey, Romania, Greece, and Russia.” Oh yea, also 1 bird in UK died from bird flu, but that was a parrot from Taiwan who died in quarantine.

(3) “German media reports the discovery of more than 20 dead birds at a pond in western Germany (yes, this is the section of Germany where I live) has raised fears that avian bird flu may have already found its way into the country, though officials are urging the public to remain calm.” Could we have a little forensic evidence on that statement before we incite the masses to panic? A revised update from the government experts “found the virus in geese, but said there is no indication it is the form that can kill humans.” Thank you.

(4) "Croatian officials confirmed that swans found dead last week had the lethal H5N1 bird flu virus strain". In Germany, experts found the virus in geese, but said there is no indication it is the form that can kill humans.

Practically speaking, I trust an expert’s opinion (CDC) on this: “Of course, the bigger fear is that bird flu will mutate into a flu that is both contagious and deadly to people and which would quickly spread around the globe through international travel. However, the current bird flu is not easily spread to people.” Don’t you love the big build-up of the statement “contagious and deadly” only to be reminded that the current bird flu is not easily transmitted to humans?

I’ll anticipate your next question: Heck, no! Those upcoming trips to Italy and Turkey are still in the works.